As a second article in a series devoted to an ongoing evaluation of our antiracism field project, a controversial assignment rooted in our Smith College School for Social Work's antiracism commitment, this paper focuses on the review of 128 assignments completed between September 1998-August 2000. A thematic analysis of these projects revealed…

Background: In 2000 the so-called "Reception" class was re-conceived (in curricular terms, at least) as the second and final year of the Foundation Stage, a distinctive educational phase for children aged 3 until entry to key stage 1 at 5 or 6 years old. The "Curriculum guidance for the Foundation Stage" endorses a play-based,…

This collection of poems by contemporary poets stretches across the boundaries of skin color, ethnicity, language, and religion to give voice to the lives and experiences of ethnic Americans. The poems address common themes of assimilation, self-perception, and communication. In recording everyday life in the many American cultures, the poems…

This handbook contains lesson plans developed by secondary teachers for working with primary source materials drawn from 20th century novels and motion pictures. Readers are encouraged to adapt these materials to fit their own teaching. Lessons are developed around: (1) "The Jungle," (Upton Sinclair); (2) "Gandhi" (film); (3) "All Quiet on the…

One approach to helping children to become literate is to use good children's literature in the classroom. Children's trade books are now available on a variety of topics. Many of them are traditional stories, but more authors are also writing historical fiction, biographies, and science books. This variety of materials allows the teacher to use…

Intended to encourage children of all ages to read over the summer, this manual presents library-based programs, crafts, displays, and events with an Olympic theme. Based on responses to earlier Arizona Reading Programs, the manual includes more preschool material, age range suggestions on crafts and programs, and more clip art than earlier…

These articles focus on art as a component of interdisciplinary integration. (1) "Integrated Curriculum and the Visual Arts" (Anna Kindler) considers various aspects of integration and implications for art education. (2) "Integration: The New Literacy" (Tim Varro) illustrates how the use of technology can facilitate…

This publication examines school and classroom practices that increase students' understanding, raise their achievement, and equip them with knowledge and skills needed in today's world. Several approaches have been identified for high schools to consider in integrating academic and vocational studies: single course integration; joint planning…

This teacher resource book, designed to encourage student interest and build learning across the curriculum in grades K-5, is based on the theme of animals. Resource lists and activities in the book focus on the following sections: (1) animals as pets; (2) animals on the farm; (3) animals in the woods; and (4) animals in the wild. Each section…

The teaching mini-units in this teacher's guide are designed for use with elementary level students. Thematic study units are given for each of the following countries or continents: Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the…

A summative evaluation assessed the progress made by the Westport Middle School Communications/Writing Magnet program's third year of operation. Part of the Kansas City, Missouri, School District's Long-Range Magnet School Plan, the program consists of 11 theme strands (text, creative writing/composition, dramatic arts, public speaking,…

Of all the reform recommendations being made by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, making mathematical connections is among the more difficult to achieve, especially at the high school level, where so much emphasis is placed on distinct content courses. Mathematical connections can relate mathematical topics to students' daily lives…

Noting that theme teaching offers opportunities to set up a classroom environment that fosters and encourages process learning, this book offers a rationale and activities for a thematic approach to instruction. The introduction of the book explores several issues: (1) assessing the strategies that children will learn as a result of theme teaching…

A literature-based approach across the curriculum helps students to personalize content-area curricula, to enjoy reading a diversity of subject-matter materials, and to improve attitudes toward reading. Teachers, supervisors, and administrators can cooperatively support literature-based practice across the curriculum by creating a positive…

This document proposes the project approach as one element of early childhood education that can function in a complementary relationship to other aspects of the early childhood curriculum. The term "project" is defined as an extended investigation of a topic that is of interest to participating children and judged worthy of attention by…